Resident AAFP Leaders
Elected and Appointed Positions
Residents make significant contributions to family medicine as members of the wide variety of boards, commissions, and inter-organizational teams that shape the AAFP. Experience in a leadership role provides valuable career insight and unique mentorship opportunities.
Most resident leadership positions serve for a one-year term, many beginning in the fall.
As medical care and health care reform undergo pivotal changes, the voice of family medicine's next generation of physicians is critical in shaping a future that aligns with the core principles of primary care. Learn what drew current leaders to their roles and find out what they hope to achieve through their skills and passion for family medicine.
Elected National AAFP Leaders
Chase Mussard, MD
Oregon Health and Sciences University Family Medicine Residency Program
Resident Member of the AAFP Board of Directors
In his role, Dr. Mussard brings a student perspective to high-level decision-making discussions of the AAFP Board of Directors.
"During my time of the board of directors, I hope to get to gain insight and help lead our academy and specialty during this transformative era in this nation and healthcare system in such a way that pushes family medicine led primary to the forefront. I also desire to bring my unique perspective and representation as a residents to this process, ensuring the next generations of leading family physicians are valued members and voices within the academy."
Janet Nwaukoni, DO
McGaw Family Medicine Residency, Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital
Resident Delegate to the Congress of Delegates
In her role, Dr. Nwaukoni represents resident member interests at the AAFP Congress of Delegates and functions as a member of the AAFP Commission on Education.
"I hope to provide the resident perspective when reviewing resolutions and curriculum guidelines, directly impacting resident education and learning. Additionally, I am excited to become more familiar about the AAFP's policy-making body, the Congress of Delegates, and how residents can play a role in policy change."
Moses J. Syldort, MD
Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell at Glen Cove Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, Glen Cove, N.Y.
Resident Delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates
In his role, Dr. Syldort represents resident member interests at the AAFP Congress of Delegates and functions as a member of the AAFP Commission on Education.
"I hope to learn the process of how to be a good representative for residents on a national level. I also hope to spread awareness to other residents about the opportunities available for policy experience as a Resident leader in the AAFP. I also hope to learn from my colleagues how to support and present issues of importance to the AAFP."
Tisha D. Van Pelt
University of South Florida Morsani (Morton Plant Mease Health Care) Family Medicine Residency Program, Clearwater
Resident Chair of the AAFP National Conference
In her role, Dr. Van Pelt provides input into planning the theme, programming, and special activities for the upcoming National Conference.
"This will be an amazing year with the AAFP and I am so excited I have been honored with representing you at our 75th Year National Conference. I will focus on learning how to be an effective speaker for our resident congress, and I hope to inspire residents everywhere to get involved in policy and advocate for the resident needs by participation in our resolution process."
AAFP Commissions
Jiayu "Kate" Tian, MD
University of Vermont Family Medicine Residency
Resident Representative of the AAFP Commission on Quality and Practice
This leadership role includes the study of health care delivery systems (e.g., PCMH, ACOs), performance measurement, practice redesign/quality improvement, privileging, health information technology, practice management, private sector advocacy, and physician payment.
"I am very excited to serve on the commission on Quality and Practice because I am passionate about improving and re-envisioning the practice environment in family medicine. In this way, I want to help promote the well-being of family medicine trainees and physicians and attract more students to join us in family medicine."
Tim Grunert, MD
University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno Family Medicine Residency
Resident Member of the AAFP Commission on Federal and State Policy
As a representative of the AAFP's Commission on Federal and State Policy, the resident leader is involved in guiding the Academy's advocacy efforts before the federal government and to assist the constituent chapters in their advocacy efforts before state governments.
"I hope to bring the resident voice to the conversations around AAFP policy standpoints and effectively represent the concerns from residents nationally. Personally I hope to learn more about the policy making and advocacy processes to become an effective advocate in family medicine in the future."
Kreena Patel, MD, MPH
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Resident Member of the AAFP Commission on Health of the Public and Science
Contact Dr. Patel
Dr. Patel's role includes contributing to a wide scope of issues, such as health of the public, evidence-based clinical recommendations and care, generation of new knowledge and science with dissemination and implementation, and disparities and the underserved populations.
"I hope to continue the AAFPs efforts towards improving health and health equity, both on the patient and the population level. Many of the factors that affect our patients' health occur outside of our office, from living conditions to structural racism, and I will take a holistic approach to addressing these public health issues as part of the CHPS. I also am excited to work towards improving the integration of public health with our daily lives as family physicians."
Rebecca Stoll, DO
Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency
Resident Member of the AAFP Commission on Membership and Member Services
Dr. Stoll's role includes projects in areas such as recruitment, retention, value of membership, member services, life-stage career issues, special needs, awards, international membership, urban/rural membership issues, degree of fellow, special constituencies, National Conference of Special Constituencies planning and chapter relations, and leadership development.
"As a resident commission member, I hope to offer the resident perspective in all committee meetings and discussions as well as advocate for what my resident colleagues feel is important for our future careers and patients. I also hope to also introduce my fellow residents to all of the benefits of AAFP membership to help foster lifelong AAFP involvement."
Justin B. Anderson, MD
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Family Medicine Residency
Resident Member of the Commission on Education
In this role, Dr. Anderson supports the AAFP's strategic objective on education by supporting the lifelong learning of family physicians and other health care professionals as a member of the commission that guides the AAFP's accreditation and provision of continuing medical education.
"I hope to serve as an extension of the passionate group of resident and student physicians who hope to change the future of medicine and medical education. My goal is to advocate for those who will be providing evidence-based, equitable, and cost-effective care for generations to come. This includes updating recommendations for residency and clerkship curriculums, increasing opportunities to develop community leadership skills, and ensuring that our future physicians represent the communities we serve."
Representatives and Liaisons to Other Organizations
Jerome Soldo, MD
UCLA Family Medicine Program
Resident Delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA)
Dr. Soldo represents AAFP resident interests at AMA meetings and interacts with AMA delegates from the AAFP.
"I hope to be an effective advocate for Family Medicine- for the patients we serve, for family physicians across the US, and for the ways we benefit public health through our profession."
Faihza M. Hill MD, MPH, MS
Unity Health - White County Medical Center Program
Resident Delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA) Resident Fellow Section
Dr. Hill represents AAFP resident interests at AMA meetings and interacts with AMA delegates from the AAFP.
"I am honored to provide the Family Medicine voice as it pertains to equitable practices in medicine, education, and policy. I am eager to work along side passionate physicians who advocate for sustainable change in resident training, patient safety, and overall quality. Learning from a team of esteemed professionals will afford me the opportunity to continue developing skills that can directly translate into actionable items both now and in the future."
Joseph Hinojosa, MD
Prisma Health Family Medicine Program
Resident Member of the AAFP Foundation Board of Trustees
In his role, Dr. Hinojosa is involved with high-level decision making on a nonprofit board of trustees.
"I hope to engage and serve as a mentor to others. I hope to inspire students to continue advocacy during residency. I hope to be apart of the conversation to create meaningful change in respect to current legislature facing family physicians."
AAFP Advisory and Program Boards
Ashten Duncan, MD, MPH, CPH
University of New Mexico - Santa Fe Family Medicine Residency Program
Resident Member of the Annals of Family Medicine Editorial Advisory Board
Dr. Duncan participates in activities including helping to develop and maintain the journal's social media presence to writing Annals Journal Club questions and more.
"My goals on the Annals Editorial Advisory Board is to advance the opinions of FM trainees about what affects their ability to function as clinicians, educators, and leaders. I hope to emphasize the growing importance of lifestyle medicine and psychology in the practice of FM. I also hope to learn from more experienced Board members about how content in academic journals is prioritized."
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